Painter s pot-hook and putty-knife



NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALBERT L. HIGGINS, OF BAR HARBOR, MAINE.

PAINTERS POT=HOOK AND PUTTY-KN IFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,856, dated March 2, 1897'.

Application filed April 17,1896- Serial No. 587,981. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

and consists of two parts.

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bar Harbor, in the county of Hancock and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Painters Pot-Hook and Putty-Knife,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to painters pot-hooks and putty-knives; and the object in view is to combine both of the articles named in one simple, inexpensive, and efficient device, the same being capable of use either upon a ladder or in connection with the clapboards or shingles of the roof or sides of the house and adapted to support the paint-pot in convenient position for use.

With this general object in view the invention consists in a combined pot-hook and putty-knife embodying certain novel features and details of construction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved device. Fig. 2 is a sectional View showing the device applied to weather-boarding and supporting a paint-pot. Fig. 3 illustrates the application of the device to a ladder. Fig. 4 shows the manner of holding the device when used as a putty-knife.

Similar numerals of reference designate correspondingparts in the several figures of the drawings.

The combination article contemplated in this invention is preferably formed out of sheet-steel or other spring metal which will afford the necessary strength and elasticity,

One part or member 1 comprises an oblong body which is extended sufficiently to form at one end a puttyknife 2, while at its other end it-is bent or looped to form a large hook 3, by which the device may be suspended from the round of a ladder.

4 designates an arm which is pivotally connected at one end to the main part 1 of the device at a point adjacent to the base of the hook 3. In-order to increase the strength of this arm 4, its opposite longitudinal edges are bent substantially at right angles to form flanges 5, and these flanges are extended at the inner end of the arm to form ears 6, which are perforated for the reception of a pin or pivot 7, by which the two members of the device are connected. A convenient manner of connecting the pin orpivot 7 to the main member 1 of the device is to form said member with spaced openings 8 and to bend the metal between said perforations in one'direction, while the metal between said perforations and the edges of said member is bent in the opposite direction. The arm 4 is also provided at its inner end with barbs or points 9, which may be driven or pressed into the Weatherboarding to prevent downward movement when the article is in place. At its outer end the arm at is provided with a hook 10, and when the arm is folded said hook is received through an aperture 11 formed in the member 1 just at the base of the putty-knife, the hook springing into said aperture and holding the arm in its folded position. Near the pivotal point of the arm 4 the member 1 is provided upon its rear surface with inclined spurs or prongs 12, which are driven into the weathefiboarding for assisting and holding the device in place against the side of the house.

It is not necessary to employ both the barbs or points 9 and 12, as either form will sufiiice without the other. It is preferred, however, to employ the barbs 9, as when the arm 4 is closed the barbs will be out of the way and cannot injure the hand. The downward movement of the arm 4 is arrested by its coming in contact with the hook 3, as shown in Fig. 2, the hook thus forming a stop for the arm.

In operation, where the painter is engaged upon the side of a house or other structure wherein weather-boarding is employed, the putty-knife portion of the device may be ill-'- serted under the lapping end of any clap board, after which the points or spurs referred to are driven into the adjacent board, when the paint pot may be hung at the outer end of the arm 4:, as shown in Fig. 2. Where the painter is operating from a lad der, the hook 3 may be engaged over one of the rounds of the ladder, and while the arm 4 is in its folded position the bail of the paint= pot may be engaged in the hook of said arm, as shown in Fig. 3. When not employed as a pot-hook, the device is well adapted for use as a putty-knife, the hook 3 being received in the hollow of the hand and the indeX-finger bracing against the back of the hook on the arm 4. The device is extremely simple and well adapted to its several uses.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A putty-knife provided at one end with a rigid integral C-shaped hook forming a handle, in combination with an arm pivotally connected to the putty-knife adjacent to the base of the hook and adapted to be supported on the base portion of the hook when swung outward at an angle to the knife, said arm being provided at its free end with a hook for engaging the pot-bail, substantially as described.

2. A putty-knife having one end bent to form a O-shaped hook disposed at one side of the plane of the knife and forming a handle therefor, in combination with an arm pivotally connected at one end to said knife near the base of the hook and adapted to rest against the hook when swung outward at an angle to the knife, said arm being provided with one or more spurs which project beyond its pivotal connection with the knife and in longitudinal alinement with the arm, and a hook at the free end of said arm, all combined and arranged substantially as described.

3. A putty-knife provided at one end with a rigid and integral C-shaped hook arranged at one side of the plane of the knife, said knife being also provided intermediate its ends with an opening, in combination with an arm pivotally connected to the knife adjacent to the base of the hook and adapted to bear against said hook for its support when swung outward at an angle to the knife, and a springhook at the free end of said arm adapted to support the pot and to enter the opening in the knife for locking the arm against the knife, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I ALBERT L. HIGGINS.

\Vitnesses:

H. L. GRAHAM, JOHN SAMINsKY. 

